Anyone play?
I found this rather nice free chess program recently
It's over 40 years since I played regularly ( wasn't good then) but the program has provided me with hours of entertainment
http://computerchessonline.net/chess-online-against-computer/
I've never studied openings or read any books about it, but I've got to the stage where most players on my level have, and so I know from raw experience what is likely to happen in any given situation during the first few moves. I've found that doing something a bit leftfield near the start throws people off if they're used to typical games. But actually most unusual things are unusual precisely because there's something wrong with them, so a more advanced player will have seen it before and know a way to use it against me.
And on that subject, if you want to play a wider spectrum of games, it's better to be black, because during the first few moves the white player is the initiator, so you will tend to have a more diverse experience if you play as black.
pent, it's much more enjoyable to play against a human. I bet I could tell the difference too, if there was some kind of chess turing test - even though I know I wouldn't beat the computer.
My son taught me and I do enjoy a game, the problem I have is I can not talk or have to much noise, or I completely lose my train of thought I hate even looking away from the board,so I'm not much fun to play with.
One of the key skills in chess is planning 3 to 5 moves ahead, in practice 3 is about the most you can expect to achieve at an 'average' level but being able to mentally compute what range of moves your opponent has for even 2 moves ahead can be quite challenging!
I think on chess.com you can set up computer vs computer? Certainly could on other programs/sites. Interesting but ultimately 'by the book' games.
I used to play 'live' at lots of different venues, big conferences in London etc. the 1980's were the heyday for school chess. We even had Karpov visit our comprehensive for a simultaneous match against 12 of the best players in the county, he didn't lose one.
The best and most enjoyable games for me are when I start to play experimentally, a sacrifice, or something to throw an opponent, but a lot of times it doesn't work out! Playing seriously I was a lot tighter.
I've just downloaded the chess.com android app for my tablet and won the first game I played! I'm on there as Loosebanana if anyone fancies a game sometime...
I'll tell you what was a waste of intellectual energy far, far worse than chess or advertising agencies - bloody J R R Tolkien devising not just one, but four wholly pointless 'new' languages! I ask you - was there ever anyone more short of something to do than that?
I used to play a bit, but haven't for years.
My son is pretty good these days, and he turned me on to this guy and his very satisfying vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/MatoJelic
Thanks for that link - he's great. I'll definitely check out more of Mato.
I like this chess video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgeYScYe8wI
banana I've just sent you a challenge!
Ah, hah! just received and made a move, ah and you have too! 3 moves a day, interesting..
bloody J R R Tolkien devising not just one, but four wholly pointless 'new' languages! I ask you - was there ever anyone more short of something to do than that?
Wasn't he a professor of languages? To him it might have been a little side hobby, a bit like when an engineer tinkers with engines in his garage at the weekends, or when a computer programmer makes a home made website in their spare time.
I read a comment somewhere that he came up with Middle Earth as a setting for his languages to live in, rather than the other way around.
On chess.com I'm bignosebignose if anyone thinks they're hard enough.
challenge sent!
On chess.com I'm Excalibur.
(I'm not really but there's bound to be one)
arghh! Sorry bignose, I allowed our game to timeout just when it was hotting up.
KB-KR3.